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Egyptian Maus are beautiful cats with beautiful personalities. They’re known for their athletic talents, playful approach to life, and strong loyalty to their families. They make excellent companion pets for people who enjoy engaging with active cats and are able to provide plenty of physical and mental exercise opportunities for them.
Egyptian Maus are considered to be a rare cat breed in the US, so it can be challenging to find information on how much it costs to care for them.
Usually bringing a cat home would cost $100 – $2,500 adding a monthly expense of $160–$590 per month approx.
This guide is here to help you get a better picture of what it’s like to live with an Egyptian Mau and has updated estimates on the initial and monthly costs that go into living with one.
Bringing Home a New Egyptian Mau: One-Time Costs
You can expect the one-time costs of bringing home an Egyptian Mau to be a couple of thousands of dollars. This is mainly because Egyptian Mau kittens are fairly expensive. Our estimates also include cat equipment, supplies, and initial veterinary care fees.
Free
Egyptian Maus are rare and highly coveted, so it’s very unlikely that you’ll find one for free unless someone you know gives one to you. In the very unlikely case that you find a stray Egyptian Mau, it’s most likely that the cat is someone’s pet and just lost their way. So, it’s important to check to see if the cat is microchipped and ensure they’re reunited with their owners.
Adoption
It’s not likely you’ll find a purebred Egyptian Mau at an adoption center, but you may find some that have been taken in by Egyptian Mau rescue organizations. Adoption fees usually vary depending on the age of the cat. A kitten’s adoption fee can be up to a couple of hundred dollars, while an older cat’s fee is usually much lower.
Breeder
The most common way to get an Egyptian Mau is to find a breeder. Since Egyptian Maus are quite rare, purebred Egyptian Mau kittens are often priced on the higher end. You can find pet-quality and show-quality Egyptian Maus, and show-quality Egyptian Maus are typically more expensive because of their prestigious pedigree. However, both types of Egyptian Maus are healthy and make excellent pets. So, it’s possible to save on costs by purchasing a pet-quality Egyptian Mau.
Initial Setup and Supplies
The initial costs for Egyptian Maus will vary depending on the types of products and services you choose. Egyptian Mau kittens will have higher initial costs mostly because of veterinary care fees. You’ll have to consider their vaccine schedules, neutering or spaying, and microchipping. Older Egyptian Maus will most likely have already gone through these procedures.
List of Egyptian Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar: | $10–$15 |
| Spay/Neuter: | $200–$500 |
| Vet Checkup: | $40–$100 |
| Vaccinations: | $150–$300 |
| Microchip: | $45–$55 |
| Cat Tree: | $50–$300 |
| Bed: | $10–$20 |
| Nail Clipper (optional): | $10 |
| Litter Box: | $10–$50 |
| Litter Scoop: | $5–$10 |
| Cat Litter: | $15–$50 |
| Toys: | $20 |
| Carrier: | $30–$40 |
| Food and Water Bowls: | $10–$20 |
How Much Does an Egyptian Mau Cost Per Month?
There are several essential monthly costs to consider when caring for an Egyptian Mau. Most of these costs will go into food, litter box supplies, and veterinary care. You’ll notice that your monthly costs will be much higher when you first bring home your cat due to veterinary care costs. Once your cat’s gotten all their vaccines and gotten a health clearance from your veterinarian, you’ll find monthly care costs go down and become more consistent over time.
Health Care
Egyptian Maus are relatively healthy cats, so you can expect your monthly healthcare costs to go down after your kitten finishes their vaccine schedule. Egyptian Maus also have coats that are fairly easy to maintain, so it’s unlikely to have high monthly grooming costs for them. Most of your health care costs will go into their food.
Food
There are all kinds of cat food that you can feed your Egyptian Mau. Dry food is typically the most budget-friendly form of food, and it’s easy to store and a better option for cats that like to graze. Wet cat food is a great way to add water to your cat’s diet and help keep them hydrated. If you really want to pamper your cat, you can choose from a variety of premium cat food, such as organic cat food, raw diets, and small-batch cat food.
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Grooming
Egyptian Maus are relatively low maintenance when it comes to grooming. They’ll benefit from getting brushed weekly to remove loose and dead hairs from their coat. If your Egyptian Mau is particularly finicky about getting their nails clipped, you can enlist the help of a professional groomer or a vet technician for a small fee.
Medications and Vet Visits
After your Egyptian Mau kitten finishes their vaccine schedule, you should see veterinary care costs go down significantly. Depending on your cat’s lifestyle, your veterinarian may recommend and prescribe dewormer medication. In general, it’s recommended for outdoor cats to take dewormer medication once a month and for indoor cats to take dewormer medication every 3 months.
Since Egyptian Maus are quite curious and athletic, they can get themselves into some accidents. So, it’s helpful to set aside an emergency veterinary care budget for unforeseen accidents.
Pet Insurance
While pet insurance isn’t required, it can definitely help pay for expensive veterinary care procedures. Most pet insurance plans help pay for veterinary care services related to accidents and illnesses. Though uncommon, some pet insurance companies offer wellness plans that help pay for routine care, including vaccines and annual checkups.
Environment Maintenance
Most of your monthly costs in this category will come from maintaining a clean and sanitary litter box setup. Scratching is also a normal cat behavior, and some cats prefer scratching on cardboard. Cardboard cat scratchers don’t tend to last as long as sisal scratchers, so you’ll probably find yourself replacing them about once a month.
| Cat Litter: | $15–$50 |
| Litter box liners: | $10–$20 |
| Deodorizing spray or granules: | $10–$15 |
| Cardboard Scratcher: | $10–$30 |
Entertainment
Play will be extremely important for Egyptian Maus. These cats are active and intelligent, which makes physical and mental stimulation essential to their care. Egyptian Maus usually love vertical spaces and will benefit greatly from having a tall cat tower. They’ll also love playing with all kinds of toys.
A cat subscription box service can help you save on cat entertainment costs and introduce your cat to a wider selection of toys. These subscription services also often include tasty, high-quality cat treats. Cat subscription boxes usually cost somewhere between $20–$25 and come with 2–3 cat toys and at least one bag of treats.
Regular play sessions can help your cat stay happy and healthy. Why not start the play with a fun toy like Hepper's Catnip Stick Toy? These sturdy toys are double-bagged, bite-proof, and filled with 100% organic catnip. Choose your favorite pastel color and treat your cat to hours of fun!
At Pet Keen, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Total Monthly Cost of Owning an Egyptian Mau
Your monthly costs will vary significantly depending on your Egyptian Mau’s health and the types of products and services you choose. It’s possible to live with an Egyptian Mau on a budget by making smart and informed purchases and choosing budget-friendly options that don’t sacrifice on quality.
Of course, we’re all for pampering our pets. So, if your budget allows you to spend more on luxury items, there are plenty of fun and cool cat supplies and toys that your Egyptian Mau will appreciate having.
Additional Costs to Factor In
The most significant additional cost to consider would be cat sitting or boarding services that you can use when you plan to be away from home for a few days. Costs will depend on the level of care and attention your cat needs and for how long you’ll be away.
It’s also a smart move to set aside an emergency veterinary care fund, especially if you don’t enroll your Egyptian Mau in a pet insurance plan. Veterinary care fees can reach thousands of dollars rather quickly, and there are some cases where your Egyptian Mau may require taking regular doses of medication or switching to a veterinary diet.
Owning an Egyptian Mau on a Budget
There’s no denying that caring for a cat will take up a significant portion of your budget. However, you can cut monthly costs by making wise purchases. While we all want the best for our pets, sometimes it’s not realistic to purchase the most expensive cat tree or high-tech litter boxes. In some cases, generic brands perform just as well as premium brands, so it’s important to do your research on certain cat supplies and compare your options.
Ensuring your Egyptian Mau is living in a healthy environment will also help reduce costs in the long run. A happy and healthy Egyptian Mau is less likely to develop behavioral issues, and they’re at lower risk of experiencing health issues.
Saving Money on Egyptian Mau Care
You can find the most wiggle room with food and cat litter. There are plenty of high-quality cat food options that are much more affordable than fresh, made-to-order cat food. Cat litter prices also vary greatly depending on the material. However, don’t simply choose cat litter based on its price. Some types of cat litter may look like they cost more, but they can last longer than cat litter made with cheaper, less absorbent materials.
If you find yourself consistently using the same products, you can try to enroll in a subscription service or auto-ship plans for those products. These types of plans and services offer discounted prices, and they often provide more cost-saving promotions and specials throughout the year.
Conclusion
Overall, you can expect to spend about $1,700–$3,000 on initial costs for Egyptian Maus. Monthly costs can range between $160–$590, and most of your monthly costs will go into food, toys, and litter box supplies.
Since a wide range of cat care supplies are set at varying price points, it’s possible to adequately care for an Egyptian Mau on a budget. Making smart and well-informed purchases will ensure that you can care for an Egyptian Mau without overspending or compromising heavily on quality.
Featured Image Credit: MDavidova, Shutterstock
